A Patient Story: A Mother’s Intuition

Fort Sanders Perinatal Center Takes Interactive Approach to Patient Care

As a nurse practitioner in internal medicine, Erin Jacques had worked with many doctors over the years.

Erin knew if she ever became pregnant she wanted to receive care from Perry Roussis, MD, and Gary Stephens, DO,  who care for all kinds of pregnancies, but specialize in those that are considered high risk. 

“I was healthy and there was nothing really high risk about me, except for my age. But I knew I would trust their judgment completely. Their nurse practitioners were awesome, too. I felt so at ease,” said Erin, who was 35 when she had her first baby. 

Erin delivered her first child, Adeline, on Sept. 18, 2017. She was a healthy 7 pounds, 6 ounces, but was a bit late in arriving.

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Adeline Jacques

Collaborative Decisions

At nearly 41 weeks, Erin explained she wasn’t having contractions, her exams were unimpressive, and she wasn’t effaced (there were no physical indications she was going into labor soon.

“I asked both doctors at different times, what’s your estimation about needing a C-section? My mom had a C-section with me. It was just my intuition that I would have a difficult vaginal delivery.”

Erin said that inducing labor was the original plan, but the physicians also gave her the option of scheduling a C-section. She and her husband, Brennan, thought about it and prayed about it, and chose the C-section.

As it turned out, Adeline’s umbilical cord had a knot in it, and the cord was wrapped around her body. Ultrasounds  will rarely detect these types of issues, baby Adeline and her mother were in very competent hands with Dr. Stephens.

“It’s extremely rare. It’s not usually discoverable before delivery, and it’s not usually a problem. But all pregnancies are at risk for unexpected problems, even if there are no high-risk factors. I think that Mrs. Jacques felt we listened to her, and had a dialog about our approach to her care. We discussed the pro’s, con’s, and risks of each type of delivery, then allowed her and her husband to ask questions so that they could make an informed decision,” Dr. Stephens said about the umbilical cord knot.

Erin and Adeline Jacques
Erin and Adeline Jacques

A Mother’s Intuition

Erin said she has no regrets about her decision to have a C-section, or to see a high-risk specialist at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center.

“It goes back to me trusting the doctors, and they let me trust my motherly intuition. I spent three nights at Fort Sanders, and healed fine with no complications. I had excellent care all around. And if I get pregnant again, that’s where I’m going! I picked them because I could literally trust them with my life.”


Complete, High-Risk Pregnancy Care within One Practice

For the last 20 years, Fort Sanders Perinatal Center has delivered over 20,000 high-risk babies at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. There’s no safer place for your baby’s beginning than at Fort Sanders Perinatal Center with complete high-risk pregnancy care in one practice and expert emergent care just steps away for our smallest patients. Call (865) 331-2020 or for more information.

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